engleski

How do preschool children in Croatian kindergartens perceive children that belong to different race?

The research about children's perception of children that belong to different race in Croatian kindergartens’ environment aims to investigate on everyday kindergarten's practice, including children from Croatia as estimators. In other words, some aspects of the effects of contemporary kindergarten educational programs for improving children's competencies in field of human rights are estimated, especially the tolerance of differences among people. It is believed that the preschool period is important starting point for developing positive attitudes towards the differences between people. Children are not color blind ; they recognize differences and they develop racial attitudes based on their observations of their parents and society in general. Children are not racists by nature and discussions about race can change their attitudes. The objectives of this research were to determine the differences in preferences of selected characteristics for children who belong to different races, as well as to identify gender differences and preferences for children to be friends. Eighty children from three kindergartens in Zagreb and Zaprešić were examined. Children described the characteristics of the boys of different races on photos, expressing their preference for friendship. Qualitative answers were transformed in quantitative categories. Results showed that children perceive more socially desirable characteristics at Caucasians, who are chosen as more desirable friends, too. It’s the simple consequence of children’s preference to people who are similar to themselves. There were no gender differences in preferences of selected characteristics among children belonging to different races. These results don’t mean that children are racists or that current preschool programmes about interracial tolerance are bad: children in Croatia very rarely have an opportunity to see children that belong to different race. To avoid negative connotations of the preference for similarity, different additional types of education about tolerance can be desirable.

desirable characteristics; friend; human rights

nije evidentirano